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Best Bouncer

Darryl Brown

The parallels between attending a show at Cicero's and playing the first level of Super Mario Bros. are stunning. The primitive video game involves three simple, yet tedious stages (parking, walking to the club, and waiting in line, respectively), ultimately ending in the final stage: an encounter with a large, menacing boss character whom you must pass to enter the castle. At Cicero's this metaphorical giant green turtle is doorman/bouncer Darryl Brown. There's nary a point during any Cicero's show at which there is any question of who is in control of your evening's destiny when Brown runs the door. The man is intimidating and relentless — the two main requirements for proper club security. Questions such as "When does the door open?" are often answered with straightforward mom-isms like "when I decide to open it." For Brown, thoroughness is key; he's as persnickety about checking IDs for 21+ bar shows as he is for almost-all-ages 16+ shows. No driver's license? Sorry, your princess is in another castle.